Lot
42

SIGNED AMI SANDOZ & FILS, GENÈVE, CIRCA 1830

Price realisedCHF 14,340

EstimateCHF 12,000 - CHF 15,000

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Ami Sandoz & Fils. A fine and early cylinder inking chronograph in fitted wooden box
Signed Ami Sandoz & Fils, Genève, circa 1830
With circular gilt-finished cylinder movement, plain three arm brass balance, engraved balance bridge, the white enamel dial with small subsidiary hour dial with Arabic numerals, outer scale calibrated for fifths of a second, large centre hand with ink bowl and discharging pointer, the dial and movement mounted on a gilt square plate with finely chased and engraved floral decoration, a push button to the lower left of the plate to stop the movement, the button to the lower right to activate the inking chronograph mechanism, all housed in a fitted wooden box with brass hinges, containing a key for winding and setting of the chronograph, a small cylindrical brass container for the ink and a spare main spring, dial signed
Diameter of dial 60 mm., box 87 x 110 x 43 mm.

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Lot essay

Nicolas-Mathieu Rieussec, watchmaker to King Louis Philippe of France, was born in Toulouse in 1781 and invented the inking chronograph in 1821. The inking chronograph was then improved and perfected by Frederick Louis Fatton, one of Breguet's most gifted workmen.

The inking chronograph operates by means of a hand composed of two parts. The lower part is fitted with an ink bowl and the upper part with a thin needle which, when activated, compresses the lower part to release a trace of ink on the dial to give a visual read-out of the elapsed time.